Clause 8
Hunting Bill
8:55 am
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire, Conservative)
The Opposition take the view that what we will be discussing from today until 13 February is a matter of the greatest importance to the countryside and to the nation. We do not intend to indulge in childish and frivolous antics of the sort that we have seen twice from the hon. Gentleman because we intend to take the matter seriously. I shall quote from The Daily Telegraph because it contains a quote from a Labour Member, which is extremely important in justifying amendment No. 100. I therefore hope that you will forgive me, Mrs. Roe. The hon. Gentleman obviously does not want me to quote from The Daily
Telegraph because he does not like the notion of what is about to come his way; it is coming his way and no amount of frivolous tactics will stop me.
The hon. Member for Reading, West is the Government's appointed representative on shooting and fishing. He said:
''You cannot make a utility case for course angling, for horseracing, for keeping pets or for greyhound racing . . . In my judgment, those tests could easily be used against lots of other sports. What is the utility of the Grand National or of greyhound racing? At the moment you can argue the case for course fishing on the grounds that cold-blooded creatures don't feel pain. But who is to say that in 20 years' time science might have changed the current scientific position?''
He is backed up by Bob Clark of the National Federation of Anglers, who said:
''Course fishing has a problem with these tests which must be taken out. We are concerned on behalf of our 230,000 members that the desire by some MPs to get a ban on hunting with dogs doesn't affect other sports in the future, which this Bill clearly does. If MPs want to get hunting banned for class-based reasons, they will do it. However in their desire to ban hunting with dogs, they need to be careful they don't bring angling into the argument.''
The hon. Member for Reading, West and the National Federation of Anglers have summed up neatly the point that my right hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, Coastal was making so plainly on Tuesday, namely that because the Bill lacks a moral heart it would quickly snaffle other legitimate human activities. Amendment No. 100 would correct that error.